The Bauhaus Building in Dessau

Since I started on the Bauhaus subject, there is so much more to say. Gropius started his movement in the old German city of Weimar but decided to build his visionary school in Dessau. The Bauhas became home to revolutionary artists such as Klee, Kandinsky and Mies van der Rohe.

The Bauhaus broke with tradition in that it used exclusively clean and simple lines, glass and concrete to create an open, bright space for young minds to flourish. Of course, what sounded right in principle didn't always work as the glass facade also made for easy heat loss in the cold Dessau winters and glaring days during the summers.

This is the dormitory block which was itself revolutionary because Bauhaus students were allowed the luxury of their own rooms, each equipped with a balcony.

Bauhaus in 21st Century KL

Hurray! After a long wait, my little Centrio unit is finally ready. Hope to get the keys this week and pop down to Interiorscape to get some suggestions on wardrobe and kitchen designs.

Just as well that I recently found inspiration in the Bauhaus buildings in Germany. The Bauhaus movement was started in the 20th Century interwar period by the architect Walter Gropius who was inspired by the reform vibe of the times to merge an art academy and school of arts and craft to create a movement that teaches form and functionality in design. In a purist sense, although there are iconic Bauhaus buildings in Germany, the movement does not refer so much to a particular style than it does to a philosophy of functionality. Thus, one can stay quite true to the Bauhaus spirit so long that one designs for utility and comfort. At least, that is how I understand it.

But then, I am not much of a philosopher and the classic Bauhaus designs are what caught my attention. If you want to know what I mean, check out the photos below. The first two photos are of Bauhaus Masterhouses in Dessau built in the 1920s. The third photo is of my apartment block circa 2010. No need to guess where the architects got their inspiration.

1920s Bauhaus Masterhouses:

2010 Centrio:

The Lamp

One of the funny things about hunting for home items is that something fabulous always comes along when you least expect it. And when you are least equipped to carry it.

So it was that I was on a holiday with my cousin in Munich when I found the perfect vintage industrial lamp. I don't know how I did it but I lugged one almost 10,000km home!